Iowa HS track 2023

What about Kifle from SCN as one of the favorites to win 4A in xc?

He has been inconsistent last xc season, but he got 10th at Griak 2022

He ran a 9:24 3200 at the Drake relays

The more the merrier, it’d be great if he was mixing it up for the win. But he was 9-13 seconds behind the 3 I named at Drake and his improvement curve isn’t the same; frankly he’s been fairly stagnant since XC 2021. He also doesn’t necessarily peak well or step up for big races - his best race last XC season was arguably his first when he won the Augustana Twilight in 15:00, 25 seconds ahead of Gabe Nash, and then come state he was 17th in 16:13, 30 seconds behind Nash. This season he ran faster in his first indoor 3200 (9:21) than at Drake.

I’m sticking with my top 3, but I’d definitely put Kifle in the next 3 along with John Maloney of Hempstead and Max DeRocher of Dowling. AJ Schermerhorn of Centennial deserves a mention as the 4th returner from the state meet, and beyond that it gets blurry quickly.

Another issue that Kifle may have is that he is losing his training partner Nash, who is graduating. So Kifle will probably have to train by himself

Dowling Catholic updated nonsenior times:
Fiori - 10 9:15 / 4:23
Derocher - 11 - 9:25 / 4:19
Wolfe - 10 - 9:55 / 4:28
Wainwright - 11 - 10:03 / 4:36
Mohan - 10 - 10:14

gobound.com

Bound | Dowling Catholic Maroons | Boys Track & Field | 2022-23

Schedules, scores, rosters, stats for the Dowling Catholic 2022-23 Boys Track & Field.

Link:www.gobound.com/ia/ihsaa/boystrack/202...

Valley looked like the clear favorite after XC but not so much now. Another podium contender will be Pleasant Valley with returning

2:00/4:35

4:37/10:08

9:58

10:27

10:30

Dowling Catholic and Johnson are like Christian Brothers Academy NJ and Southlake Carroll TX. They don’t rebuild. They always reload.

Cedar Falls is going to be good:

Jaden Merrick 9 4:17, 9:12

Luke Hartman 11 9:27

Connor Martin 10 4:31, 9:58

John Ferguson 10 4:40, 10:04

Jack Considine 11 10:16

Charlie Wiering 9 2:02, 4:41, 10:17

Brennen Hoyer 9 1:59

Plus a bunch of other kids who ran in the 17s last season, some of whom were 9/10. 2 low sticks and great depth.

Wow, looks like Cedar Falls will be up there for a while, at least as long as Merrick is still in HS

Also gotta watch out for Dallas-Center Grimes. They will be good (not that they will win state)

They only got 4th in the section, but they return everybody

Some 4A boys distance rankings (with a dose of subjective conjecture) heading into this weekend:

800
1. Jackson Heidesch 12, WDM Dowling
2. Gabe Nash 12, SC North
3. Ammon Smith 12, IC City High
4. Moustafa Tiea 10, IC West
5. Carson Lane 12, Johnston
6. Truman Thompson 12, IC City High
7. Tommy Hensley 11, Urbandale
8. Garrett Weber 12, Waukee
9. Ben Hanson 12, Norwalk
10. Bruce Johnson 11, SE Polk
11. Aidan O’Connor 12, Johnston
12. Tony Anania 10, Norwalk
13. Gabe Shaw 12, DM Roosevelt
14. Brennen Hoyer 9, Cedar Falls
15. Henry McMahan 11, CR Kennedy

1600
1. Jackson Heidesch 12, WDM Dowling
2. Ford Washburn 12, IC City High
3. Gabe Nash 12, SC North
4. Carson Lane 12, Johnston
5. Ethan Zuber 10, Ankeny
6. Jaden Merrick 9, Cedar Falls
7. Miles Wilson 12, CR Kennedy
8. Ammon Smith 12, IC City High
9. Luke Knepp 12, Pleasant Valley
10. Max DeRocher 11, WDM Dowling
11. Garrett Weber 12, Waukee
12. John Maloney 11, DUB Hempstead
13. Tommy Hensley 11, Urbandale
14. Natnael Kifle 11, SC North
15. Levi Hill 12, Ankeny

3200
1. Jackson Heidesch 12, WDM Dowling
2. Ford Washburn 12, IC City High
3. Gabe Nash 12, SC North
4. Luke Knepp 12, Pleasant Valley
5. Ethan Zuber 10, Ankeny
6. Jaden Merrick 9, Cedar Falls
7. Miles Wilson 12, CR Kennedy
8. Flynn Milligan 12, WDM Dowling
9. Natnael Kifle 11, SC North
10. John Maloney 11, DUB Hempstead
11. Jaxson Plumb 12, Johnston
12. Luke Hartman 11, Cedar Falls
13. Carson Owens 12, SE Polk
14. AJ Schermerhorn 11, Ankeny Centennial
15. Caleb Kass 12, DUB Hempstead

The 800 with Heidesch, Nash and Smith is an exciting race.

Multiple 4:02 miles has to make Heidesch the favorite in all 3 events, but if his head and heart aren’t in it because he’s busy thinking ahead to postseason races he could be upset by Washburn, Nash or Smith.

City High should win the 4x800 and if they’re running the ‘A’ squad like I think they are, the state record is under threat. Johnston looks like a strong #2 and if Dowling anchors Heidesch, I think they’re 3rd.

Medley I like IC West over City High just like at Drake, since West’s sprinters are much stronger than City’s and Tiea is legit (like 1:49 in high school legit).

Best wishes to everyone competing at the state meet this weekend.

Mike Jay,

I would put Ammon Smith at 1 in the 800. He is a baller, and I could see him running 1:51, or whatever is necessary to win. This is going to be a crazy state meet.

City high is running it's top 4x8, 7:37 isn't out of the question. They are running the same med they ran at Drake, I think they probably get 2nd, maybe 3rd.

It'll be a great team race between linn mar and city. First team to mess up probably loses.

Just to be clear, I am not Mike Jay, I am merely a fan of (as of yet unreleased) audiobooks recorded by Mike Jay.

I figured someone might argue for Ammon as #1, and since he’s the Drake champ ahead of Nash it’s a valid contention. But you are a former City High runner, so maybe there’s a little bias at play there too.

I think Heidesch and Nash can run 1:51, but I admit I wasn’t factoring in how Smith is a baller. Game changer.

No Fingalson in the 800.

Nash will sneak out the win because Heidesch and Smith will try to stay away from one another.

Yeah. I was a little disappointed to see that. I think he’s capable of something really fast given his now 48.47 open 400 speed, but I guess a relatively lackluster result at Drake dissuaded him/Mason City coach from going for it at state. It’s a shame because there’s often some variability in 800 performances, and Drake was tactically unusual.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy is another team to watch out for. They took 8th at state and return everyone except for Miles Wilson.

I'm not sure we will ever see another year where the 5th place finisher in the 800 could realistically run a 1:52. It could be a very very long time.

CR wash could also break City Highs 1996 4x1 all time record. I'd love to see Miles Thompson run a sub 10.30 as well.

This could be a state meet for the ages in a number of events.

Considering what happened last year, this has to be the most anticipated match up of the year...and I wouldn't be shocked if neither came away with the win.